The Apple Tree

 

The Apple Tree

From 'Aesop's Fables' by Brishti Bandyopadhyay

There was once an old apple tree in a farmer's

garden. It could not bear fruit anymore. But

a large number of grasshoppers, squirrels,

sparrows and other small birds and insects

lived in the tree.

One day, the farmer decided to cut down

the tree. "The tree has become useless,

but I can make some tables and chairs

with the wood," he thought.

He took a sharp axe and struck at the roots

of the tree.

At once, the birds and animals in the tree

came out of their holes and nests.

"Please save this tree," they begged the farmer.

"It's our only home!" they cried.

But the farmer only struck harder at the roots.

"We will sing to you as you work," said the sparrows.

"That will make you happy," said the squirrels.

But the farmer did not listen to them. He went on

striking at the tree-harder and harder. He was

in a hurry-he wanted to chop down the tree

before noon.

As the farmer raised his axe one more time,

he saw something in the hollow of the tree.

It was a beehive.

He looked closer. It was full of honey. He tasted the honey.

"Ummmm! It tastes so sweet," he said.

"So," said the farmer, "the tree is not useless after all.

If I take some honey now, the bees will make more.

They won't go away from their home.

"Listen!" he said to the birds and animals.

"I shall not cut down this tree. It is your home.

You can live in peace now." And he threw away his axe.

The farmer isn't a kind man," said the grasshoppers, squirrels and sparrows. "He wants the tree because there is honey in the beehive." But they shouted in joy. Their homes were safe.

Questions

1. Where was the old apple tree?

There was once an old apple tree in a farmer's

garden.

2. Who lived in the apple tree?

grasshoppers, squirrels,

sparrows and other small birds and insects

lived in the tree.

3. Who decided to cut down the apple tree?

the farmer decided to cut down

the tree. 

4. What did the farmer want to do with the wood from the tree?

"The tree has become useless,

but I can make some tables and chairs

with the wood," he thought.

5. “Please save this tree”, Who said this to whom?

At once, the birds and animals in the tree

came out of their holes and nests.

"Please save this tree," they begged the farmer.

"It's our only home!" they cried.

6. “We will sing to you as you work”. Who said this?

"We will sing to you as you work," said the sparrows.

7. What did the farmer find in the hollow of the tree?

As the farmer raised his axe one more time,

he saw something in the hollow of the tree.

It was a beehive.

8. Why didn’t the farmer cut down the tree?

So," said the farmer, "the tree is not useless after all.

If I take some honey now, the bees will make more.

They won't go away from their home.

"Listen!" he said to the birds and animals.

"I shall not cut down this tree. It is your home.

You can live in peace now." And he threw away his axe.

9. “ The farmer isn’t a kind man.” Who said this?

The farmer isn't a kind man," said the grasshoppers, squirrels and sparrows.

10. Why did the animals shout in joy?

"He wants the tree because there is honey in the beehive." But they shouted in joy. Their homes were safe.